The folks at RiasBaixasWines.com sent me a couple of amazing white wines from the Rias Baixas region of Spain.

This Santiago Ruiz was a fantastic blend of primarily Albarino. I dominated the opening 5 minutes of The We Like Drinking Podcast a few weeks back, talking about how much I loved this wine. I was so excited, I even forgot to say the name of the wine (sorry guys).

You can stream the episode here, download it on iTunes, or just watch the video of our podcast below…

You should know that I’ve been drinking good wine and eating great food the whole time… But, sometimes, life gets in the way (I’ve got all these kids, now!).

Now…

Even though I don’t post here as often as I used to, Stay Rad Wine Blog will be here forever.

If that’s not enough Jeff for you (I mean… Who doesn’t need more Jeff in their life?), you can always join me on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available here, or download on iTunes) every Friday.

Check out the wine I was drinking on our latest episode…

Troon Vineyard 2013 Black Label M*T Reserve

The Troon Vineyard 2013 Black Label M*T Reserve was sent to me as a sample for review a few months back. It’s a wonderfully odd field blend of 57.67% Malbec and 44.33% Tannat. It’s a big, dark, and juicy wine from Southern Oregon that would give many a Napa Cab a run for their money.

It also goes great with Taquitos!

A few days later, I jumped into another Oregon wine while I was making dinner…

A Blooming Hill Vineyard 2014 “Trouble” Pinot Noir

The 2014 Pinot Noir from A Blooming Hill Vineyard was another sample sent for review. The husband and wife team of Holly and Jim Witte named their two Pinot Noir blocks after their dogs (Gemini and Trouble). This “Trouble” has a super fun nose of mushrooms, tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, and wet rocks. The palate is surprisingly sharp and fresh on the first approach. Loads of tart cranberries, red currant, and (would you believe it?) lime zest. If the high acid up front scares you, don’t trip… It becomes much more approachable with time in the glass.

Food helps too…

Sicilian Cauliflower Pizza

That Pinot Noir is a great pizza wine. The combination was a beautifully juicy and round meal… Perfect for a Friday night at home with the one you love.

Stay Rad,

Jeff

Be sure to listen to Jeff each and every week on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available now on iTunes).

]]>https://stayradwineblog.com/2016/05/31/stay-rad-wine-blog-tv-episode-174-trinco-or-treat/feed/0jeffisradWhat to think about A Proper Pinkhttps://stayradwineblog.com/2016/02/28/what-to-think-about-a-proper-pink/
https://stayradwineblog.com/2016/02/28/what-to-think-about-a-proper-pink/#commentsSun, 28 Feb 2016 21:02:39 +0000http://stayradwineblog.com/?p=5564]]>In the latest episode of the We Like Drinking Podcast (available on iTunes), you may have heard me raving about all these samples of rosé that were sent to me from Bonny Doon Vineyard. These wines are definitely rave-worthy.

This sample, provided by the winery, is part of Bonny Doon Vineyard’s “A Proper Wine” label. Composed of 69% Tannat and 31% Cabernet Franc this dry, pink wine is $16.

Color: Light cranberry. I know that Bonny Doon Vineyard likes to “play around” with “alternative packaging”. I wonder if they have ever considered juice boxes…

Nose: A lively, citrus-driven aroma. This nose has great notes of orange zest and grapefruits with a hint of river rocks.

Palate: Contrary to what many folks may expect from a pink wine, this effort has a rich mouthfeel. While there is a strong foundation of acidity here, which carries fruits of cherry and orange pith to a medium plus finish, the relatively heavy weight to this wine may leave some to ponder, “What the heck is a proper pink supposed to taste like?”

Score: What is certain is that at $16 a bottle, the thought-provoking nature of this wine is well worth the price of admission. This is the perfect bottle for an unseasonably warm winter’s day. 88 points.

Stay Rad,

Jeff

Be sure to listen to Jeff every week on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available on iTunes), and leave a comment below about your favorite pink wine.

Be sure to listen to Jeff every week on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available on iTunes), and leave a comment below about your favorite “foxy” wine.

]]>https://stayradwineblog.com/2016/02/27/stay-rad-wine-blog-tv-episode-173-gettin-foxy-for-otbn/feed/6jeffisradWhen the Wife’s Away, Jeff Don’t Playhttps://stayradwineblog.com/2016/02/27/when-the-wifes-away-jeff-dont-play/
https://stayradwineblog.com/2016/02/27/when-the-wifes-away-jeff-dont-play/#commentsSat, 27 Feb 2016 18:45:15 +0000http://stayradwineblog.com/?p=5550]]>A few weeks back, Kara was out of town for a get-together with some old friends. As much as I love spending time with with my wife, I don’t mind the occasional nights alone… It gives me a chance to get together with some old friends of my own…

“Hello, Cornerstone Cellars! Hello, New York Strip! It’s been a while!”

Cornerstone 2012 Black Label Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and a New York Strip

You know that I love me some Cornerstone Cellars. I’ve been sitting on this sample of their 2012 Black Label Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for a while, and have been dying to taste it, but with Kara being pregnant, I have not had a chance to open as many bottles around her as I normally would (considering she doesn’t get to share it with me).

You should also know that I love me some beef. I’ve been dreaming of this juicy cut of grass-fed goodness a lot lately. My wife, however, has a “no mammals” policy when it comes to our meals. As a result, I don’t get a chance to indulge in as much red meat as I wish I could.

Formerly known as the Stepping Stone series, these “second label” wines from Cornerstone bring some serious chops at a serious value.

Color: Inky deep purple.

Nose: Fruits of plum and blackberry up front, with secondary notes of leather, allspice, menthol, and pencil shavings. This is a nose a teacher can get behind (I’m talking about the pencils, not the Kool cigarettes, silly).

Palate: A nice, medium plus weight to this wine. Fruits of ripe plum, cassis, and high-toned red cherries on the front palate. There is solid structure here from the chalky fine tannins and long acidity. I love the transition of fruits to tobacco leaf and rich forest soil on the long, Earthy finish.

Score: This wine is friggin’ lovely! 93+ all the way. Kara should get out of town more often (Just kidding, girl. I love you).

Now…

While this wine would do perfectly fine as a stand-alone drink, the fine folks at Cornerstone believe strongly in treating wine as part of a meal. I could not agree more.

Here’s what I paired with it…

Pan-Seared New York Strip with Blue Cheese, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, and a Baked Potato

What did I say?

Jeff. Don’t. Play.

Stay Rad,

Jeff

Be sure to listen to Jeff every week on the We Like Drinking Podcast (available on iTunes), and leave a comment below about your favorite Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and food pairing.